EGG-LAYING
BY EARLY LEMURIANS PROJECTED IN MALAY FOLKLORE
Erle
Frayne D. Argonza / Guru Ra
A very
popular legend among the Bruneians is the story of the great warrior Awang Semaun.
The narrative about the great warrior reveals facets of the early kingship
(sultanate) formation of Brunei
and the institutions interwoven with it.
What I wish
to highlight in the tale though is a more recondite facet: the tale’s
revelation of the early egg-laying or oviparous way of laying children by the
early Lemurians. Divine wisdom had revealed that the first phase of Lemurian
races were gigantic, hermaphroditic types who reproduced largely through
egg-laying.
The oviparous
early Lemurians would later be recycled over and over in diverse folklore
across the globe. A sample narrative of it is the story of Awang Semaun. Below
is a summary of the legend.
[Philippines, 16
June 2011]
Awang
Semaun: Tale of a Brunei
warrior
Foundation
narrative: Awang Semaun was said to have 13 siblings from 13 different mothers,
all legendary Brunei
warriors who found Kampong Ayer and whose cries of 'baru nah' ('now we found it')
gave Brunei
its name. Picture: Rozan Yunos collection / Rozan Yunos -
BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN
Sunday, May 25,
2008
IF
ONE were to mention the name Awang Semaun to any Bruneian, he or she would
conjure up a description of a strong brave warrior who has contributed to the
existence of Brunei.
According to legend, Awang Semaun is said to be the younger brother of Awang
Alak Betatar (who eventually became the first Sultan of Brunei, Sultan Muhammad
Shah). Awang Semaun was made a Damong by his brother and he also later became
the Pengiran Temenggong (one of the four wazir or viziers) who assisted the
Sultan in governing the country.
Who was Awang Semaun? According to Brunei legends and one of the most
famous epic poems which bore his name, Syair Awang Semaun, he was one of 14
brothers which included Awang Alak Betatar, Pateh Berbai, Pateh Mambang, Pateh
Tuba, Pateh Sangkuna, Pateh Manggurun, Pateh Malakai, Pateh Pahit, Damang Sari,
Pateh Sindayong, Damang Lebar Daun, Hapu Awang and Pateh Laila Langgong. The brothers
all lived in different places with Awang Semaun and his brother Damang Sari
living in Garang, near Kuala Labu in Temburong.
It was said that the father fathered the 14 children in his journeys . His
grandfather was known as Sang Aji Brunei. His name is mentioned in
another epic poem, Syair Negara Kartagama, written in 1365 where he was known
as Sang Aji Baruwing (a variant of the name "Brunei").
According to oral legends, despite being married for quite some time, he was
childless. One day while walking outside his palace, he found a giant egg and
brought it back to the palace. That night a young boy by the name of I-Pai
Samaring was hatched. He later married the daughter of Sang Aji and gave birth
to Alak Betatar.
While the princess was pregnant, she was craving for a tembadau (wild cow).
I-Pai Samaring went hunting and managed to hit a tembadau with a spear but it
got away. I-Pai Samaring followed the bloody trail through several villages. At
each village, he married the daughter of the chieftain as it was considered a
great honour. He married 13 times before he eventually found the tembadau.
Each of those wives later gave birth to the brothers of Awang Alak Betatar.
When Awang Alak Betatar grew up, he went in search of his brothers and brought
them together. They later went in search of a new place to build a country and
when they found the location at the present Kampong Ayer, their cries of baru
nah — "now we found it" — gave Brunei its name.
Awang Semaun is mentioned in a number of local folklores and legends. Whether
he is the same Awang Semaun in all the other legends, one will never know.
According to Iban folklore, Awang Semaun or Sumaun is the son of Derom anak
Sabatin. Derom, together with his father, alighted in Tanjong Batu (bordering
Sarawak and Indonesia).
Sumaun and his brother Serabungkok moved to Naga Rajang when they were grown
up. Serabungkok married Lemina and gave birth to Dayang Ilam who later married
Raja Semalanjat. The Ibans are said to be descendants of Serabungkok.
On the other hand, Semaun had a son name Tugau and the Melanaus are said to be
the descendant of Tugau. According to Iban legend, Sumaun went to Brunei in
search of his fortune.
According to the Muruts in Ulu Lawas, Semaun was said to be a seer and a very
strong man. One rainy day when he was taking shelter under an overhang by a
hill in Long Bawan, he stood up forgetting that he was under an overhang. An
existing hole where he stood up — complete with the shape of his ears — can
still be seen today. In another place his footprint can be seen when he jumped
from one hill to another.
It was said that he went away to Padian (Brunei) and was never heard of
again.
However, the Brunei legends
stated that Awang Semaun was the brother of Pateh Berbai and is of Brunei origin.
According to local Temburong folklore, Awang Semaun left behind a giant vase
used for keeping water. The local people said that the giant vase can sometimes
appear and a number of locals have claimed to have seen that magic vase.
One local head village who worked in the area in the 1920s said that he saw the
vase at least 10 times. He described the vase as having an opening of about two
feet in diameter, its length up to 30 feet and a broad middle of about 20 feet
in diametre. The vase will be found half submerged in the river. The British
Resident who heard the stories tried to search for the vase in vain. The
elderly folks said that a magic vase like that will not be found by those who
went searching for it.
It was said that Awang Semaun converted to Islam in Johor. During the reign of
Awang Alak Betatar, he instructed Awang Semaun to go to Johor in search of a
Johor Princess who became Awang Alak Betatar's consort. The Johor Princess had
a bird named pinggai (burong pinggai). When the Princess was taken to Brunei, the bird came to Brunei to
search for her. It came together with a ship which sank when it arrived in Brunei. The
sailors were said to be assisted by the Kedayans who lived in Berakas. From the
Kedayans, the sailors heard that the bird had flown to a place which eventually
became Kampong Burong Pinggai.
From that village, the emissary from Johor discovered that the Princess had
married the Brunei Sultan. However, the Princess, together with her searchers
from Johor, managed to persuade Awang Alak Betatar to return back to Johor for
the Johor marriage ceremony there.
In Johor, Awang Alak Betatar converted to Islam and took the name Sultan
Muhammad, Pateh Berbai became Pengiran Bendahara Seri Maharaja Permaisuara and
Awang Semaun became Pengiran Temenggong.
On their return back to Brunei,
the Johor Princess' followers stayed in Kampong Burong Pingai.
Some also said that the Johor Sultan "persuaded by her happiness and the
fame and glory of Brunei" — as described by Saunders in his History of
Brunei — journeyed to Brunei and formally installed Alak Betatar as Sultan and
his brothers, including Awang Semaun in the offices of state which became
traditional to Brunei and presented the new Sultan with the royal regalia.
We only know Awang Semaun through legends. We do not even know of his
descendants. We will never know the truth about him.
But the name Awang Semaun lives on as one of Brunei's great warriors.
The writer runs a website on Brunei
at bruneiresources.com.
The
Brunei
Times
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